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Topic: America's Got Talent 6 (Read 16021 times)

I have been thinking about why Season 6 has a different feel with a much higher variety of types of acts. It is the most interesting season by far from my perspective. So why is that?

One hypothesis is that the producers reacted to the over-abundance of singers in the winners' circle of prior AGTs and somehow limited the field of singers allowed to compete. Here is the list of prior AGT winners:

Limits on the singers in the talent pool has meant more spots open for a wide range of talent. Here are the types of acts on my projected final 10 list in the next post above

arrange popsicle sticks into a pattern that allows them to self-destruct with a forward momentum and explosive forcekinetic movements behind a screenethnic danceethnic dancethe "Russian bar" performers are doing something so risky that it is riveting to watch another high risk performance of a belly flop into 12 inches of waterdancemagician Frank Sinatra style singer what will be 4 motorcycles inside a steel globe

So, that's just one singer out of 10 who I expect to be finalists. I applaud the producers for this trend however it happened.

No, it's not Minneapolis. It might be Houston(Piers was carrying a sign saying 'Houston loves Howie'. I actually want to compare Cindy with Lys Agnes(The retail girl who sang 'Ave Maria' fantastically) but I can't find her in your recap so I'll try my best to make one.

There's some other performers who got into next round from Denver:Mike Stone and the Kritikal Band --> A band with 3 male musician and 3 female singing. Piers buzzed but after the buzz, he said he enjoy the performance more

As I have said before if they can't come up with a non singing winner they may as well give up on the show because they haven't accomplished much besides being a slightly different version of the X factor.

I somehow missed having my writing for the first Minneapolis round make it into a recap. I have gone back and added it as part of the Houston episode where it actually was. Thank you for giving me the heads-up that I was missing something. Unfortunately, my judgment on acts worthy of the final 10 does not match yours. I did add The Kinetic King who is in fact my overall favorite in AGT6. However, Lys Agnes has a nice voice but not good enough to make the final 10. Also, I found Silhouette a bit juvenile (no surprise so it's composed of 36 kids). they will not be in the final 10 in my opinion. See my final 10 list excluding any I might want to add next week to replace Professor Splash:

The reason with me choosing these acts might be because I realised that last season, most of the high variety acts failed to make it into final round so I have to insert some singers. After all, I think a lot of varieties is displayed in my Top 10. Let's wait for the auditions from last city + Youtube. They might be interesting to see.

Rachel Zamstein – singer of her own songs plus electric guitarist; the vote was 2-1 with Piers Howie(interestingly) dissenting

and additions to your recap:

Shemika Charles - Limbo dancer

franxaverian,

You were right on who dissented for Rachel Zamstein. It was Howie, not Piers. I have corrected that in the appropriate place.

You were also right that I somehow missed Shemika Charles. I saw her act, loved it and did not write about her. I have subsequently learned that she holds the world's limbo record for a female at 8.5 inches (WOW!). That's incredibly impressive. I assume she will go for a new world's record if she reaches the finals, but what does she do in between. I just don't see how that works out or I would have her in my list of "top 10" finalists. I did go back and insert her into New York II Auditions.

You are also right that the probability of at least one new talent emerging from the last show (which may be a mix of leftovers from multiple venues) before Las Vegas. My recollection is that the YouTube show is typically after Las Vegas since there is usually only one performer selected out of all those who apply that way.

The Las Vegas round started with the judges placing each act into a category and looking at each category to determine the best in it. They (or the producers) love to play game by putting the results into suspense, but when these 10 acts were called I was sure what it meant:

Captain Stag Tuggo and MaybelleRhinestone RopersFearless Flores FamilyLys AgnesMelissaTeam iLuminateMiami All StarsProfessor SplashSilhouettesSquonk Opera (from Minneapolis; I don't remember seeing this one at all although I have looked at an act of theirs and it is worthy of this exemption)

So, what did I conclude about these 10 acts? That they would be selected to go directly to the Hollywood round without any performances in Las Vegas, which was in fact true. These acts were sent home to prepare for the next round. This filled 10 of 48 available slots in the Hollywood rounds, leaving 38 to be filled as a result of performances. The judges selected several teams from each category to perform on the first day in front of Howie, Piers, Sharon and no audience. The judges noted their appraisals but did not share them with the performers unless they were really awful, in which case they were sent home immediately. That only happened to Remedy, who sang so out of tune that it unnerved me and the judges. I will review each act and its final outcome delivered one by one or in small groups after the day 1 performances were completed and the judges had the opportunity to decide who was in and who was out. Here were those outcomes:

ANIMAL ACTSa dog act not shown except for the dog - outEcho the Parrot and trainer - HollywoodMacaw and the Las Vegas Parrots lady - out

CLASSICAL SINGERSArmand and Andrea - unclear what their performance or fate was, but I think they may be in day 2Cindy Chang (sang "Man of La Mancha", a poor choice for a female voice with huge vibrato) - outLandau Eugene Murphy Jr (Frank Sinatra vocals) - HollywoodNecessary Diva (sang Ave Maria) - out

BANDSProud Mary (3 female vocalists with 3 instrumentalists) - outLost Boys - I may be mixing them up, but I think they are going to HollywoodDGB trio of boyhood friends) - outPopLyte (teens with good female lead singer) - HollywoodFiddleheads (2 banjos, a violin and a guitar) - HollywoodMike Stone & Kritikal Band - out

DANCEFatally Unique (with one key performer injured, they made a change in who was doing her bit even though she returned) - HollywoodLD Dance - out (no sympathy vote for Lucia who was injured)Snap Boogie (kinetic dancer) - Hollywood

FEMALE SINGERSChevonne - outKelsey - outDani Shay - broke under the pressure of singing her own music; asked to redo her audition with something well know; she chose "Troubles" and is going to Hollywood

NOVELTYping pong guy - no chance; outa singerThose Funny Little People - they are getting funnier and going to HollywoodThe Kinetic King - I was shocked that he did not make the top group, but he was spectacular and obviously has a wide variety of different explosive popsicle stick formations; going to HollywoodThomas John (juggler who played the xylophone upside down with balls juggled in and spit out of his mouth to the tune "O When the Saints") - out

So that was it for day 1. According to my records there were 18 acts that made it. Since the acts came fast and furious last night and many were not identified in the final yes-no results, there may be some errors above from either acts going to Hollywood I said weren't or acts not going to Hollywood that I said were. I will make my best effort to fix them as I recognize them such as when they do or do not turn up in the next round).

The next episode telecast tonight will feature the other teams that are being given a chance for any remaining slots, of which there are plenty. This group has to include what I regard to be some very strong acts:

About 30 acts which did not get the invite to perform day 1 were left to compete for the remaining 17 slots. It was can other action-packed telecast distinguished by a lack of any subtitles on the screen, so it was frequently difficult to figure out what was happening to whom. Here were the results:

Talent decisions were mostly rational, with the really good acts according to me left out of this process the Chicago Tumblers and Shemika Charles. It could have been much worse. So, who do I think will emerge from each category as part of the final 10 now? Here are my picks, which will look familiar to anyone who has read my picks from before the Las Vegas rounds:

DANGERSandou Russian Bar TrioFearless Flores Family

COMEDYMelissa Villasensour

NOVELTYTeam iLuminateThe Kinetic KingProfessor Splash

DANCEMiami All StarsFatally Unique

MUSICIANSSquonk OperaFiddlehead Band

ACROBATSZuma Zuma

MAGICIANSLandon Swank

So that’s 12 acts for the top 10. From the judges list of those who did not have to perform in Las Vegas, I felt Capt. Stag Tuggo and Maybelle, Rhinestone Ropers, Lys Agnes and Silhouettes should have been forced to compete and will ultimately not go into the final 10.

If I had to pick the best 5 acts right now, it would be difficult but I would go with Sandou Russian Bar Trio, Kinetic King, Miami All Stars, Zuma Zuma and Team iLuminate. We’ll see. My record in picking last year was not in sync with the viewing audience so it will be nice to see better synchronicity this year. One can always hope.

Guest performance by Avril Lavigne & the cast members of Broadway musical Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

These are the group calls(Acts advancing to semifinal in bold):1st Group Call: Snap Boogie, Fearless Flores Family and Duo AeroPiers showed disappointment that either one of FFF or Snap Boogie will be eliminated.

Last Group Call: Those Funny Little People, The Fiddleheads, Miami All StarsThose Funny Little People was eliminated first and Piers was ecstatic about this.Fiddleheads and Miami All Stars were the 4th and 5th placer. Sharon and Piers voted for Miami All Stars to advance.

Thanks to franxaverian for doing the first week recap of AGT6 semi-finals. I would like to clarify one point, which is that Piers, Howie and Sharon have no voting responsibilities from the semi-finals through to the finale. They only can comment on the acts. I had rated the acts as follows:

My conclusions from the above were that Sandou Russian Bar Trio and Miami All-Stars should advance without question and the other 2 spots would be filled from Dezmond Meeks, Fearless Flores Family and Snap Boogie. The shortcomings of Those Funny Little People, J. Chris Newberg and Duo aero were exposed for all to see.

America voted to send the first two plus Snap Boogie forward plus Anna Graceman, who I don't evaluate as having great talent but the American public is always a sucker in America's Got Talent for cute little female singers.

Attack Dance Crew A-Dani Shay B+Geechy Guy BDaniel Joseph Baker B+Rhinestone Ropers BDylan Andre BLandon Swank A-Smage Brothers riding Shows B+Thomas John BSteven Retchless B+ (note he performed in ballet toe shoes, not spike heels, which was probably a good decision given the way the American public would likely have felt about the latter)Mona Lisa B+Silhouettes A

Piers said it best when he stated that the level of performance in this episode was very high. I see Seth Grabel, Landon Murphy Jr. and Professor Splash as shoe-ins for the first 3 places in the next round. The 4th place will be between Summerwind Skippers and Lys Agnes. As is frequently the case with Las Vegas and earlier round judging decisions, Ian Johnson, Monet and Captain and Maybelle had no business being in the Hollywood Round.

I have only one correction...the correct name is Seth Gandel Grabel but for all your ratings, I most certainly agree with you. I see Mauricio, Ian Johnson, Monet and those 3 boys going home easily. The 3 acts going forward are easily Landau, Seth and Professor. As for Poplyfe, Summerwind Skippers and Lys, any one of them going would be fantastic as I 99% believe that if there's going to be a wildcard round, the other two would be there, joining Landon Swank.

The tough one, elimination of Sh'Boss Boys quickly and judges decision between #4 and #5 Professor Splash and Seth Grabel. Sharon voted for Seth, Howie for Professor Splash and Piers for Professor Splash. That was a difficult and close decision and why they pay those judges the big bucks.

I really enjoyed seeing Fighting Gravity perform on this results show. They should have won AGT5.

Oh well, another great magician bowed out of the competition...I didn't see that coming, especially Poplyfe got through instead of Seth or Summerwind Skippers. We'll see them in the wildcard round, hopefully.

How's your take on the last group next week?Based on their audition, I can only say that Mellisa Villasenor, Team iLuminate, Zuma Zuma and Kinetic King could easily take the last 4 spot. The competition would come from Scott Alexander, the last magician left. As for the others, I barely remember them and hopefully Sam B and the 3 girls got eliminated quickly.

Well, I still hope at least one magician survive until top 10 like last season's Michael Grasso although he has to be 'resurrected' using the Wildcard Round. I took pity for all the magicians that there have been 2 magicians eliminated because of the judges' vote.

So that means that I rate iLuminate tops and Zuma Zuma and Melissa Villasensor close behind. with Fatally Unique edging out Yellow Design Stunt Team, Scott Alexander and Frank Miles. There was a wealth of good acts in this grouping, as my A- rated acts would have made it through in other brackets. Scott Alexander, Yellow Stunt Design Team and Frank Miles were all impressive but just not enough given the competition. Charles Peachock was OK. Sam B and Avery and the Calico Hearts and Taylor Davis were exposed as “should not have been here” material.